News New Polynesian Resort DVC villas building to open 2024

[TheIceBaron]

I would bet on at least two bars at the new tower, with none of them being tiki bars.

That being said, Trader Sam's is already easily accessible to everyone in the MK-area as is, hotel guests and TTC patrons

I stayed at Poly a month ago and it was still not easy to get in there, so with added hotel capacity very close by, I worry about it. Yeah everyone in MK area can get there but it’s a little easier if it’s just a short walk away.

 

[DisneyOutsider]

Does it though? Saying "it could be worse" does not make this feel any better.
Heck, I would go so far as to say the interior looks very beautiful... It just does not look like the resort... It's too modern, lacks all the style and feeling of being at Disney's Polynesian Resort...Looks more like Miami...
boo.

Someone who follows the goings on at WDW closely and who saw the concept art should have known not to expect a continuation of the kitschy mid century tiki theme from the original build. I think that's the context that OP is speaking from

 

[FiestaFunKid]

Disney has really lost its way with creating unique and immersive resort environments that invoke a specific feeling from guests. As nice as this looks, there is a reason people flock to CR, Poly, GF, WDL, Boardwalk decades later - and this ain't it. I feel like I'm attending a work/corporate conference when I see these sanitized new builds (Disneyland Hotel DVC Tower included).

I don't know the internal creative structure well - but did Imagineering used to have more involvement on the resort side, and now it's mainly hotel industry hires who skill set is building the latest trends? It reminds me of Mike Brady in The Brady Bunch Movie only being capable of one style.

 

[DisneyOutsider]

I stayed at Poly a month ago and it was still not easy to get in there, so with added hotel capacity very close by, I worry about it. Yeah everyone in MK area can get there but it’s a little easier if it’s just a short walk away.

Yeah it's definitely a legit concern. It's also adding demand for the existing monorail station and ferry boat landing, though of I ever stay there I'm likely walking to MK being that close to GF. Will be interesting to see the final amenities line up and how things play out.

 

[TheIceBaron]

I think why this hotel specifically stings is because it takes away from the existing property. I am not sure how many people complained about Riviera’s existence because it didn’t replace anything or ruin much. But here it does.

It also stings because we know what Disney is capable of and we are comparing Disney against itself. Otherwise this hotel isn’t terrible per se, just so many things they could have done to mitigate any concerns and they didn’t.

 

[MouseEarsMom33]

Disney has really lost its way with creating unique and immersive resort environments that invoke a specific feeling from guests. As nice as this looks, there is a reason people flock to CR, Poly, GF, WDL, Boardwalk decades later - and this ain't it. I feel like I'm attending a work/corporate conference when I see these sanitized new builds (Disneyland Hotel DVC Tower included).

I don't know the internal creative structure well - but did Imagineering used to have more involvement on the resort side, and now it's mainly hotel industry hires who skill set is building the latest trends? It reminds me of Mike Brady in The Brady Bunch Movie only being capable of one style.

The theming of the new cruise ships have been nice. They need more of that talent for the hotels.

 

[nickys]

Is it too early to start the rumour that the monorail was supposed to go through the big square opening?

@ToTBellHop already did!

 

[DisneyOutsider]

I'm mostly relieved that they didn't vomit a Moana-bomb all over the lobby.
DVC seems to be showing more restraint in that area after that Reflections scare combined with the Incredibles re-theme at Contemporary.

 

[FiestaFunKid]

I think why this hotel specifically stings is because it takes away from the existing property. I am not sure how many people complained about Riviera’s existence because it didn’t replace anything or ruin much. But here it does.

It also stings because we know what Disney is capable of and we are comparing Disney against itself. Otherwise this hotel isn’t terrible per se, just so many things they could have done to mitigate any concerns and they didn’t.

good points....it also re-affirms a disappointing trend that the new builds have become more homogenized. Gone are the days of the vastly unique experiences of CR, Poly and GF.

 

[nickys]

If these rooms don’t sell, will they learn? I could be mistaken but I didn’t think Riviera sold as well as anticipated.

Initial sales were fast. Then Covid hit and sales stalled somewhat.

 

[Notes from Neverland]

Really, really interested to see how the Polynesian's amenities handle the influx of guests. That Monorail station is going to be busy.

 

[MouseEarsMom33]

Really, really interested to see how the Polynesian's amenities handle the influx of guests. That Monorail station is going to be busy.

I'm concerned now when I stay at GF that monorail will be full

 

[SplashJacket]

Does it though? Saying "it could be worse" does not make this feel any better.
Heck, I would go so far as to say the interior looks very beautiful... It just does not look like the resort... It's too modern, lacks all the style and feeling of being at Disney's Polynesian Resort...Looks more like Miami...
boo.

It’s not really “it could be worse,” but instead, given what we already know about the project and what is getting built, they didn’t have to make any changes to the exterior, but instead they did, and they improved it.

We could complain about it getting built to begin with (but we already did) but now we know it’s getting built, and to me, it went from going from bad to good. Baffling to making sense.

 

[DisneyOutsider]

I'm concerned now when I stay at GF that monorail will be full

They could alleviate this in the future with a new fleet with open gangways optimized for capacity, but I'm guessing that most here would complain about that as well.

Maybe a new fleet could also decrease headways for the MK loop, but there may be other limitations preventing that.

 

[James Alucobond]

Oh my gosh, all it takes is some brown paint and everyone suddenly loves this monstrosity? Nothing about this update makes me feel ANY better about this being here. The lobby is drab and boring and could fit in any luxury hotel brand. The exterior is still just as drab as before; it's just brown now. I am astonished at the change in attitude here based on this update.

There is a significant gulf between “this paint scheme looks a bit better than what was originally proposed” and “this now looks amazing”.

 

[Doberge]

It's more aesthetically pleasing than the Riviera build-out with a much more substantial lobby, has a better location as you mentioned, and comes with none of the re-sale restrictions that Riviera has. I think it will fly off the shelves as fast as they want it to (depending on how they price it and/or incentivise).

For clarity there has not been an official announcement whether new or old association to know if it will have resale restrictions.

But yes, it should sell well assuming there are no surprises with annual dues, and there shouldn't be given the existing resort and tower structure.

I don't think incentives will be aggressive and that Disney will happy to sit and sell over year's, like Riviera. I'll do on hill that Disney has been okay with Riviera pace because it's great to slays have an EPCOT resort to sell. Fort Wilderness, on the other hand, is a disaster.

 

[Incomudro]

I like the images of the interior in and of itself.
The issue is that the entire structure doesn't fit in where it is.
Will Disney erect a high rise (yes I know it's not the technically correct term) next to the Grand Floridian next?
Just build a tower, and put some Victorian style trim on it?
Because that's the equivalent of what they did here.

 

[DisneyOutsider]

For clarity there has not been an official announcement whether new or old association to know if it will have resale restrictions.

But yes, it should sell well assuming there are no surprises with annual dues, and there shouldn't be given the existing resort and tower structure.

I don't think incentives will be aggressive and that Disney will happy to sit and sell over year's, like Riviera. I'll do on hill that Disney has been okay with Riviera pace because it's great to slays have an EPCOT resort to sell. Fort Wilderness, on the other hand, is a disaster.

I don't think there's any lack of clarity at all, here... It will be a part of the old association... that's a done deal. They have repeatedly said so in all of their communications. Rooms haven't been declared yet, but this is not a new association. They're not going back on that now. Not to mention they've been exercising ROFR on Poly contracts like never before. It's just a formality at this point.

I might agree with you on the pricing and Riv comparison were it not for the terrible flop of Fort Wilderness. They're looking at actively selling Riv, Aulani, FW Cabins, Poly, and Disneyland Tower all at once. That's a TON of inventory to be sitting on. They might start dangling some carrots if things don't pick up soon. Though I'm not sure that Poly needs extra incentive to sell initially.

 

[Incomudro]

Some latest pics

 

[DisneyOutsider]

I like the images of the interior in and of itself.
The issue is that the entire structure doesn't fit in where it is.
Will Disney erect a high rise (yes I know it's not the technically correct term) next to the Grand Floridian next?
Just build a tower, and put some Victorian style trim on it?
Because that's the equivalent of what they did here.

The kind of already did that? Not as tall as the Poly addition, but the Poly plot was a bit more land-restricted.